Kansas State tight end Linkon Cure is already turning heads before taking a snap in Manhattan.
The 6-foot-5, 223-pound freshman was named to Fox College Football’s Top 10 Impact Freshmen for 2025, landing at No. 10 on a list packed with five-star talent.
Here are the Top 10 impact freshmen heading into the 2025 college football season, according to FOX Sports' @Michael_Cohen13 pic.twitter.com/lQXxJtfUt4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) June 13, 2025
Cure joins the ranks of Michigan QB Bryce Underwood, Oregon WR Dakorien Moore, and Ohio State CB Devin Sanchez, among others.
Known for his rare combination of size, speed, and hands, Cure’s skill set allows him to create mismatches in the passing game while also offering a developing blocking ability in the run game.
Cure, a native of Goodland, Kansas, is the top-ranked tight end in the 2025 class and the highest-rated recruit in K-State history, with a 5-star, 0.9816 247Sports Composite rating.
He chose the Wildcats over offers from Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma among swaths of others.
The expectations for him are sky-high.
He enters a tight end room for 2025 that returns Garrett Oakley, Will Swanson, and Brayden Loftin, giving K-State serious depth at the position. But don’t be surprised if Cure carves out a role early—especially in red-zone packages and third-down situations.
New offensive coordinator Matt Wells, who takes over playcalling duties full-time this year, has options. But with Cure’s size, athleticism, and pass-catching ability, keeping him off the field could be tough—especially if his blocking continues to improve.
The offense will again be led by dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson, now a junior. After showing flashes in 2024, Johnson returns with momentum—and pressure—to take the next step. If he does, K-State could be a legitimate College Football Playoff threat.
The Wildcats are already earning national respect in preseason polls. They’re ranked No. 12 in USA Today’s Top 25, No. 16 in FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index—the top-ranked Big 12 team.
K-State finished 9–4 last season (5–4 Big 12), closing the year with a wild 44–41 bowl win over Rutgers. With talent on both sides of the ball and a top-10 freshman stepping in, the Wildcats are aiming for more in 2025.